The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-09-30

would fill a volume, buts-I will relate
only one, wherein acted as his sec
ond.
One night, at masked ball, Cho-
quart quarreled with a Turk. Cards
were exchanged. The following day,
Choquart, with his two seconds, went
to his adversary's house. The Turk of
the previous evening turned out to be
a well-to-do upholsterer, who carried
spn business IN the Saint-Martin quar-
ter On entering the premises, Cho-
quart inquired after NJ. BalIu.
''What can l do for you?" asked
young and pretty woman, who came
forward from the back of the shop.
"Stuff and nonsense! I don't like
| jokingin matters of serious Importance.
My name is Choquart. / come for an
affair of honor. A gentleman shouldn't
be made to wait in this manner. Your
husband is an Inbred dog"
ooh, excuse me, now ] know what
brings you. This is whatI have to say.
My husband went out yesterday to
spend the carnival, and it has made
him i'll. He is in bed, and splits blood.
"Dear me-" remarked Choquart,
turning toward his seconds. .'what a
mischance! He spits blood, did you
say?"
"Alas! yes SIR answered the young
woman, who seemed much affected,
and the doctor says that he has not six
months to live"
'Dear mer' went on repeating
Choquart, splitting blood. How shall
we settle matters, thenP Hasn't six
months to live. Well, madame, Tn
not a bad fellow. whatever others may
think. Now, listen to what have to
say. We are in January, aren't we?
Just so. Well. I'll give your husband
six months to be buried in. Ishall call
around and pay my respects six months
hence. If, in July next, your husband
isn't dead and buried, I'll treat him as
a knave and deceiver, and placard his
name in all the barracks of Paris. -
This threat, which constantly fell
from Choquart's lips, was a reminis-
cence of his soldier life The thought
never suggested itself that an uphol-
sterer might not care the jingle of a
brass farthing whether his name were
placarded or not in all the barracks of
the country.
One fine afternoon in July of that
same year, Choquart took hold of my
arm at the Varieties coffee-house, and
said:
"Come along with me, old boy;
have small matter which I real
ly must clear up without further loss of
time"
We took a road which led toward the
Saint-Martin quarter, and, as we
walked along, Choquart entered cir
substantially into the particulars of
the case. The upholsterer's day of
reckoning had arrived, and Choquart
was bent on finding out whether his
former Turk had paid the funeral draft
Endorsed six months previously by his
wife.
'If," soliloquized Choquart "the
rogue is still alive, I'll cut off both his
ears, you know. I'm justified in so
doing, am notP"
''Of course you are, my dear fellow
But let me ask, the thing occurred
long ago, didn't it, and in the carnival
season. And again, what did the fell
low do to warrant such a feudp"
"What did he do, the villainp Just
listen, and I'll tell you. / was at
masked ball given at the Renaissance
Theater. I walked into the green
room, in my dress suit | am spare of
limb, as you can see. Suddenly Turk
stopped directly in front of me, and
bawled out: 'Halloo, there goes the
Fat Ok! Make way, please, for the
Fat Ok? Everybody roared at this
sally. [ was downright vexed, as you
may suppose. So l made up to him
and said: My merry friend, at noon
tomorrow you shall be a dead man.
''He was in the wrong, certainly" I
pleaded, 'to insinuate so invidious
comparison between thin man like
you and fat OK; but
We had reached our destination.
Entering the shop, we came upon M
Ballu, the upholsterer, who all budding
and blooming, was busy working at
parcel of goods.
"Oh, that's your little game, is itp"
began Choquart, as soon as he set eyes
on his intended victim. you're
alive, then? / thought as much. But
you don't play the monkey with me
any longer, Mister Turk; you've caught
the wrong sow by the ear this time,
let me tell your
Monsieur Choquart!'' exclaimed the
merchant.
Eyes, sir, my name is Choquart-
Choquart do you hear, sir?-who'll
have none of this .tomfoolery. Your
wife-where is she, your wife? She's
young and pretty, but wants to run
rig upon me. Your wife, 1 say, averred
that you were on your last legs and
would be dead as a herring in less
than six months, and here you are,
alive and kicking. Now is that the
way you keep your engagements"
"Ah! Monsieur Choquart," reiolned
the merchant, who had somewhat re-
covered from his first fright, II have
been i'll, very i'll, indeed. You'llnever
see me don the Turkish garb again.
IT'S over now. So let me ask YOU to
forgive and forget any improper thing
1 may have said on that eyentful
night"
"One moment" said Choquart. mot
quite so fast, please. Do not tender
your excuses in the regular formP"
Faith, don't quite understand
what form that is. But this l know,
for / have inquired about you and
learned that you are right good fell
low. Come, have roasted leg of
mutton with kidney-beans. VIII you
do me the honor to dine with me. Won